Playing card holder

ABSTRACT

A card holder which removably supports a plurality of rows of playing cards with the cards in each row spaced side-by-side and with the rows vertically spaced so that all of the cards are within the view of the user. Each row of cards is removably supported in a vertical position between resiliently mounted fanshaped plates or leaves so that individual cards can be inserted and removed without dislodging adjacent cards.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Florian B. Cerney;

Tina M. Cerney, both of l405-l/4 North l-lavenhurst Drive, Los Angeles, Calif.

90046 [21 1 Appl. No. 886,280 [22] Filed Dec. 18, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 16,1971

[54] PLAYING CARD HOLDER 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl 273/150 [51] lnt.Cl r A63f 1/10 [50] Field olSearch 273/150, 151

[56] Relerences Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 73 l .027 3/1966 Canada 273/l 50 14,574 1889 Great Britain. 273/150 277,080 8/1930 ltaly 273/150 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Harris, Kiech, Russell & Kern ABSTRACT: A card holder which removably supports a plurality of rows of playing cards with the cards in each row spaced side-by-side and with the rows vertically spaced so that all of the cards are within the view of the user. Each row of cards is removably supported in a vertical position between resiliently mounted fan-shaped plates or leaves so that individual cards can be inserted and removed without dislodging adjacent cards.

SUMMARY This invention relates to a card-holding device and because it is particularly applicable to a device for holding playing cards, it will be so described for purposes of illustration. In general, the invention contemplates a card-holding device including a plurality of holding elements, leaves or plates, which are superposed and attached together in their lower portions in a back to front relationship. Each holding element is generally T-shaped and includes an upper fan-shaped portion and a lower depending handle portion. The cards are inserted and removably supported between the upper fan-shaped portions of adjacent holding elements or leaves.

One object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which can removably support a large number of playing cards, such as, for example, or more cards, with each card being within the view of the user or player. More particularly, it is an object to provide a card holder which supports cards in a side-by-side relationship and in a plurality of vertically staggered rows such that all of the cards are easily observable by the card player.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which will firmly but removably support a plurality of playing cards such that the cards are not dislodged when a card is inserted or removed from the card holder or the card holder is moved about or jostled in the card players hand.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which includes guide means which assist in the placement of playing cards into the card holder. More particularly, it is an object to provide a card holder which has a plurality of guide troughs, defined by the convex and concave portions of adjacent holding leaves.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which will removably support a plurality of playing cards in a substantially planar position.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which can be held comfortably in one hand and removably support a plurality of cards in such a way that all the playing cards are within the view of the card holder.

Another and further important object of the present invention is to provide a playing card holder which is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. More particularly it is an object to provide a holder which is constructed of a minimum number of parts and which can be made from a variety of inexpensive materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a card holder which provides means for readily grouping the cards into arbitrary sets, such as, for example, color sets, suit sets, value sets, and the like. More particularly, it is an object to provide a card holder which removably supports a plurality of cards in staggered rows wherein the cards can be grouped into arbitrary sets by rows or portions of rows.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will assist in prolonging the life of playing cards. When cards are held directly in the hand, they are subject to contact by oils of the skin and perspiration. Furthermore, when playing cards are held in the hands, the holder often bends or curves the cards to fit the natural configuration of his hand. The soiling of cards by oils and perspiration and the bending of cards markedly decreases the useful life of playing cards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a card holder which embodies the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 ofFIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the card holder of the invention with playing cards inserted therein.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the card holder 10 includes a plurality of superposed resilient holding elements or leaves 12, 28 and 44 of similar configuration, three of such leaves being shown in the drawing to illustrate a device for removably supporting two rows of cards. Obviously, more than three leaves could be used, depending upon the number of cards to be held.

Considering first the front resilient holding leaf 12, it is of general T-shape with an upper fanlike portion 14 and a depending lower handle portion 16, the fanlike portion including a planar base area 18 (FIG, 2) terminating at an upper shoulder 20 which merges into a concave trough area 22 (when viewed from the front) of arcuate cross section having a rear contact line 24 at the base of the trough and an outer lip or edge 26. The outer edge 26 can be of arcuate shape as shown in FIG. 1 or it can be straight, the arcuate shape having the advantage of spacing apart the upper ends of the playing cards.

The center or intermediate resilient holding leaf 28 is similar in configuration to the front leaf l2 and includes an upper fanlike portion 30 of greater height than the fan portion 14 of the first leaf l2, and a depending lower handle portion 32. The fan portion 30 includes a planar base area 34 terminating at an upper shoulder 36 which merges into a concave trough area 38 of arcuate cross section having a rear contact line 40 at the base of the trough and an outer lip or edge 42.

The back or rear resilient holding leaf 44 is similar in configuration to both the front leaf l2 and the middle leaf 28 and includes an upper fanlike portion 46 of greater height than the fan portion 30 of the middle leaf 28, and a lower depending handle portion 48. The fan portion 44 includes a planar base area 50 terminating at an upper shoulder 52 which merges in a concave trough area 54 of arcuate cross section having an outer lip or edge 56.

The front leaf 12, the middle leaf 28 and the rear leaf 44 are joined together in their lower portions in a back-to-front relationship such that the handle portions of the holding leaves are in register and the trough sections thereof are in a vertically staggered or offset relationship as shown in FIG. 2 in which the contact line 24 of trough area 22 is opposite of and engageable with the upper shoulder 36 of the middle leaf 28 to provide frictional card-holding means 64, and the contact line 40 of trough area 38 is opposite of and engageable with the upper shoulder 52 of the rear leaf 44 to provide frictional card-holding means 66.

The holding leaves are attached together such that the upper boundaries of the attached lower portions of adjacent holding leaves provide card-holding abutment means 60 between the front holding leaf 12 and the middle holding leaf 28 and abutment means 62 between the middle holding leaf and the rear holding leaf 44. These abutment means support the bottoms of the playing cards 63, 65 and are staggered vertically upwardly in successive fashion from the front of the holder to the rear thereof.

Referring to FIG. 3, groups of playing cards 63 and 65 are removably supported in a planar configuration in vertically staggered rows. In the front row, the cards 63 are supported at their lower edges at abutment means 60, are held between the front and middle resilient leaves 12 and 28 by frictional cardholding means 64, and are braced by the outer edge 42 of the middle leaf 28. In a similar fashion, the playing cards 65 are supported, held and braced in the back row between the middle and rear resilient holding leaves 28 and 44.

A reinforcing member 58 is preferably secured to the back side of the rear holding leaf 44 for reinforcement as a precautionary measure.

The resilient holding leaves 12, 26 and 44 and the reinforcing member 58 can be constructed from a large variety of resilient materials such as metal, plastic or polymeric material, heavy paper or cardboard, wood veneer, and the like. The holding leaves and the reinforcing member 58 are secured to one another by conventional means such as, for example, cements or glues, rivets, spot welding or soldering, or thermal fusion it the holder is constructed of a plastic or polymeric material.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

' l. A card holder comprising, in combination:

a plurality of superposed resilient holding leaves of general T-shape having upper portions with frictional card holding means and lower depending handle portions, said leaves being attached together in their lower portions in a back-to-front relationship, the upper boundaries of the attached lower portions of adjacent leaves defining cardholding abutment means, said abutment means being staggered vertically upward from the front of the holder to the rear; and a bracing member secured to the back side of the rear holding leaf of the card holder.

2. The card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper portion of each of said resilient holding leaves has a substantially planar base area terminating in an upper shoulder which merges into a trough area of arcuate cross section having a contact line at the base of the trough and an outer edge, the trough areas of all of said leaves being concave towardsthe front face of the holder, the base of the trough at said contact line of each of said holding leaves being in contact with the upper portion of each rearwardly adjacent leaf adjacent the inner edge of its trough to provide the frictional card-holding means, the outer edge of the trough of each leaf being in substantially the same plane as its base area.

I! t i i i 

1. A card holder comprising, in combination: a plurality of superposed resilient holding leaves of general Tshape having upper portions with frictional card holding means and lower depending handle portions, said leaves being attached together in their lower portions in a back-to-front relationship, the upper boundaries of the attached lower portions of adjacent leaves defining card-holding abutment means, said abutment means being staggered vertically upward from the front of the holder to the rear; and a bracing member secured to the back side of the rear holding leaf of the card holder.
 2. The card holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper portion of each of said resilient holding leaves has a substantially planar base area terminating in an upper shoulder which merges into a trough area of arcuate cross section having a contact line at the base of the trough and an outer edge, the trough areas of all of said leaves being concave towards the front face of the holder, the base of the trough at said contact line of each of said holding leaves being in contact with the upper portion of each rearwardly adjacent leaf adjacent the inner edge of its trough to provide the frictional card-holding means, the outer edge of the trough of each leaf being in substantially the same plane as its base area. 